BOGOTA – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos told his United States counterpart Donald Trump on Monday that Latin America would not support a “military intervention” in Venezuela.

“We reiterate to President Trump ... that any military intervention would not have any support from Latin America,” Santos told a group of Colombian journalists after meeting with the US President on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, along with Brazilian President Michel Temer, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, and Argentine Vice President Gabriela Michetti.

Prior to the meeting, Trump called for “a full restoration of democracy and political freedoms” in Venezuela, saying the situation in Venezuela was “completely unacceptable,” and referred to the US sanctions imposed on the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

For his part, Santos said the meeting was “very cordial, where each of the participants expressed their views on Venezuela.”

“We are deeply concerned about what is happening, our greatest interest is to defend the Venezuelan people, that their rights are respected, democracy is restored and we discuss the way and the need to coordinate to try to produce a transition that is peaceful, maintains the stability and makes it democratic,” Santos said.

The Colombian president also stressed the need to work towards the recovery of democracy “for the Venezuelans,” adding that Colombia is “most interested in Venezuela doing well.”

Santos said that no specific measures were agreed on at the meeting, but Latin American governments agreed to “work as a team” by listening to each other and giving opinions.

Santos again urged Venezuela to “free political prisoners” and organize “clean elections without fraud.”

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